Shloka 13

The Eight Nidhis: Guna-Based Types of Wealth, Giving, Hoarding, and Public Benefit

Devanagari script

कदन्नभुक्परिजनो न च शोभनवस्त्रधृक् / स्वपोषणपरः शङ्खी दद्यात्परनरे वृथा

Transliteration

kadannabhukparijano na ca śobhanavastradhṛk / svapoṣaṇaparaḥ śaṅkhī dadyātparanare vṛthā

Translation

家人が粗末な食に甘んじ、身にまとう衣も整わず、ただ己の養いのみを第一とする者――そのような吝嗇の人は、たとえ他者に施しても、むなしく施すだけで功徳の実を結ばない。

Word by Word

• कदन्नभुक्परिजनः: one whose attendants eat inferior food
• कदन्नभुक्परिजनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कदन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + भुक् (√भुज्, क्विप्-कृदन्त) + परिजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (कदन्नं भुङ्क्ति इति भुक्; कदन्नभुक्-परिजनः = whose attendants eat poor food)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• शोभनवस्त्रधृक्: wearer of fine clothes
• शोभनवस्त्रधृक्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शोभन (प्रातिपदिक) + वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + धृक् (√धृ, क्विप्-कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (शोभनं वस्त्रं धारयति)

• स्वपोषणपरः: intent on his own maintenance
• स्वपोषणपरः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पोषण (प्रातिपदिक) + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (स्व-पोषण-परः = devoted to self-maintenance)

• शङ्खी: Śaṅkhin (one possessing a conch; name)
• शङ्खी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्खिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• परनरे: to/for another man (in another person)
• परनरे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक) + नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (परः नरः)

• वृथा: in vain, uselessly
• वृथा: Sambandha (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वृथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dana without basic responsibility—when one’s own dependents suffer—becomes fruitless; dharma begins with proper maintenance and non-harm.

Vedantic Theme: Karma’s inner intention (bhava) and coherence of conduct; hypocrisy (dambha) obstructs purification.

Application: Ensure fair provision for family/dependents before public charity; practice non-exploitative frugality; align giving with compassion and responsibility.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: household duties and proper dana as purifying; condemnation of hypocrisy (general thematic link)

FAQs

What is the importance of righteous charity (dāna) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses that dāna must be aligned with dharma: a person who neglects basic duties toward dependents and lives in stinginess makes even outward charity ineffective.

How does this verse explain the moral basis of merit in giving?

Merit is not only the act of giving but the intention and responsibility behind it; charity done from miserliness or while neglecting one’s own household obligations is described as vṛthā—without spiritual fruit.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Ensure basic care of family/dependents and cultivate generosity without hypocrisy; give sustainably and with sincere intent rather than as a show or while neglecting primary responsibilities.